Philippine Polymer Clay Guild "Under the Sea Challenge

This September, the Philippine Polymer Clay guild revealed another one of their challenges named "Under the Sea". The challenge is to create a project inspired by the sea.



Challenge Cover

 I have always loved ocean-themed pieces. And for this challenge, I decided to go back to something I really love doing - Steampunk! Inspired by Jules Vernes' 20,000 leagues under the sea novel. I decided to do an underwater scene with the Nautilus exploring the ocean floor, discovering the mysteries of the sea.

First, I conceptualized a design for my entry.

Concept drawing of my piece

Then I started doing the elements of the bracelet. I started with a background of foil and alcohol inks and made my own polymer clay bezels. Then I hand-sculpted the steampunk octopus extending his arms all throughout the panel, injected the submarine, and incorporated metal findings with designs of a fish and starfish (I also tinted it with alcohol inks) and watch gears.

Raw panels of the bracelet

I finished the bracelet with a coat of UV Resin then assembled it with glass beads.

I named this piece DEEP SEA DELIGHT.




Deep Sea Delight Bracelet


To quote Jules Verne: "The sea is the vast reservoir of Nature. But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, live--live in the bosom of the waters! There only is independence! There I recognise no masters! There I am free!"

Fortunately, I was one of the winners of this challenge. Ms. Marie Segal, an internationally-renowned Polymer Clay Artist, was invited by the Guild to judge.



Letter by Ms. Marie Segal to the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild challenge participants

 Please visit our Guild's facebook page to view all of the wonderful pieces made by our members at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.546296788757613.1073741829.172264889494140&type=1

Art Bead Scene: February 2013 Challenge

I'm back!

After months of blog inactivity and a short vacation from claying, I decided to go back to my craft with another Art Bead Scene challenge.

For this month, the inspiration was from Toshi Yoshida's skillful woodblock print "Heijinja, 1941".

Toshi Yoshida's "Heijinja, 1941"

 The flame red focal color reminds me so much of Love and Valentine's day and so as the Cherry Blossoms blooming.

With this I created an asymmetrical necklace using Red and the cherry blossoms as my main focal points. And I named my piece, "Sakura".

The flowers are all finished with alcohol inks, inka gold and mica powders. And I incorporated it with plastic and acrylic beads to complete my palette.

One of the Three Sakura flowers

With the focal bead depicting a Cherry blossom tree

Here is the finished product:

What do you think? 

Happy claying everyone!

More Carved Cuff Bracelets

I can't seem to get enough of the carved cuff bracelet tutorial of Ms. Rocky Villegas-Antonio. Last weekend, I decided to try my hand in creating cuff bracelets.


For my first creation, I used the leaves and vines push mold. I just read the Percy Jackson book series so I was very much inspired by Greek mythology in naming this piece. I called it Demeter's Garden. I used translucent clay with alcohol inks and acrylic paints.




On my wrist :)



Closer view of the front detail



View from the side details

For my second creation, I named this Monoliths. I used the Tribal faces push mold to form the black clay and finished it with inka gold cream paints.




On my wrist



Front view detail



Left side view detail



Right side view detail

 Would be making a lot more of these over the Holy Week vacation!

Saturday Claying Day

I have been a very busy bee today and finished projects. I also got the chance to try out Ms. Rocky Villegas-Antonio's Carved Cuff technique. Since I only got 3 sets of push molds, I tried to maximize what I have. (Note to self: Hoarding of clay supplies should include more push molds hahaha!)  I used translucent clay, applied with alcohol inks, then added patina after baking. 


And here's the finished item:

"Tribes" bracelet

On my arm :)

Although I should have used less alcohol inks. Oh well, maybe next time.


Here's the link to the tutorial so that you can try it out:


http://theclayingmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/tutorial-carved-cuff.html

Philippine Polymer Clay Guild "Apatchies" Challenge

As promised here are my entries for our Guild's "Express yourself in APATCHIES* Challenge".

Album cover c/o yours truly :)

First let me explain what APATCHIES mean. 

    " APAT means four in Filipino. APATCHIES is a play on the words four inchies. An inchie is a small piece of art; a snippet of self-expression. In this challenge, ALL MEMBERS were asked to express themselves in 4 separate inchies." - Angeli Del Rosario, P3 Publicity Head

And here are my entries:

I used my favorite media with scrap / black clay: alcohol inks with gold foil, inka gold, mica powders and canes. What does this mean? Well, it shows my different personalities: I can be earthy, sparkly and fiery, and I love nature.

Want to view more? Go to our facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292184090835552.68120.172264889494140&type=3 to see more of the creative ways we expressed ourselves through our Apatchies.

Until our next challenge for Valentine's Day!

These are not my P3 Inchies Entries

Finally, I finished my inchies way ahead of time and I created extras for me. Actually, these are experimental in nature which thankfully turned out to be really good.

Extra Inchies!

These are made from black / scrap clays, metallic foil, alcohol inks, mica powder and inka gold!

Will post my final Inchies when we reveal it in our guild on February 8.

Alcohol Inks!

I am so addicted to alcohol inks with polymer clay. I'm forever experimenting and trying different techniques with it and so far I still have a long way to go in mastering this medium. Let me share with you some of my experiments:


1. Alcohol ink on polymer clay with black and white image transfer:

2. Alcohol Inks in polymer clay with 2 kinds of photo-transfer techniques:

3. Alcohol Ink with TLS and metallic foil on polymer clay

4. Alcohol ink in polymer clay with "masking" technique - Batik-style (Technique by Heather Campbell): I really enjoyed doing this :)

I may have to challenge myself to do something using technique no. 4. I'll keep you posted :)